NetBlender has announced a new Blu-ray Disc technology that allows iPhones and iPod Touch devices to interact with content on a Blu-ray disc. Called “BD Touch”, the technology leverages the network connection built into Blu-ray players and the WiFi connection on the iPhone to create two-way communication between the devices. Video, audio, text, and player commands can be transferred via the connection.

BD Touch connects the 10 foot experience of the large screen home theater with the mobile experience offered by the iPhone. The sophisticated UI of the iPhone enables unprecedented user interaction when compared to any other handheld device. BD Touch applications can take advantage of the iPhone’s geo location features, 3D sensors and QWERTY keyboard. BD Touch features will work on any BD Live-enabled Blu-ray Disc player such as the PlayStation 3.

“Having spent the past decade building interactive video products we are thrilled to bring together two of the most interactive consumer products ever created with BD Touch,” said John Harrington, NetBlender CEO. “We began R&D on integrating the two devices right after I experienced the iPhone Multi-Touch interface for the first time.”

Via Format War Central

A DTS press release announces that its DTS-HD Master Audio™ technology is now available for the PLAYSTATION®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system. DTS-HD Master Audio™ can deliver 7.1 audio channel, 96k/24-bit sound identical to the original studio master. The new PS3 with DTS-HD Master Audio will be available by simply downloading the upcoming firmware upgrade on April 15th, 2008.

Fox Home Entertainment, MGM and New Line Entertainment have religiously used DTS Master Audio on their releases, and other studios including Sony and Magnolia have releases that use the codec.

“We are extremely pleased that Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) is adding the full spectrum premium DTS-HD Master Audio codec into the PS3 so that more than 10 million owners of one of the best selling computer entertainment systems can have the best sounding, most efficient and flexible audio technology available as well,” said Brian Towne, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Division at DTS. “DTS-HD Master Audio is fast becoming the must-have feature for high definition entertainment enthusiasts.”

“PS3 was designed to enable delivery of new and improved technologies like DTS-HD Master Audio,” said Teiji Yutaka, Senior Vice President, Software Platform Development, SCE. “So we are delighted to be able to offer this capability to PS3 users.”